ELENA MONTESINOS
Cultural agitator & former manager of the independent art space FORDE (2012-2014). Artistic director of GET A NERVE, the alternative art fair in parallel to Artgenève (2019-2020). Curator of HOME OF TMF, a space dedicated to happenings, interactive installations and performances in Geneva (2020-2021).
Awards
2021 : +35y Artist Award, City of Geneva and FMAC Commission, Geneva
2018 : Act-Art Federation, Geneva
2001 : Geneva Council Grant and Residency in Schönhauser, Berlin
2000 : Lissignol-Chevalier-Galland Grant, Geneva
1999 : Manor Kunstpreis, Geneva
1998 : Swiss Art Award
Group and solo events
2023
1984/ 2024, Collective showcase curated by Home of TMF. Bonfire of Poverty, performances, installation and DJ’s, DUPLEX, Geneva
THAT GIRL AND THE HOMIES, happening performance at FACE Z festival opening, with 30 artists conducted by Elena Montesinos at Vélodrome, Geneva
2022
NEVER GATE, a psychoactive movie by Elena Montesinos & JD Schneider, 18′, Eurotrash with English subtitles – World premiere @ LUFF 2022
VIRTUAL FANTAISIES, augmented reality works inserted in the contemporary art exhibition “Renegotiation” at Cimetière des Rois, Geneva
2021
BVR-REDUX, public workshop with That Girl during BIM 21, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
DEC 17TH, window performance as That Girl featuring The Wild Panthers and Nagi Gianni’s mask. Curated by Art au Centre in conjunction with Aspasie and Planet 22, Geneva
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance turned into a personal flashmob this year again, curated by TMF, Geneva
PAY ME A VISIT, Swiss coin mosaic being composed live, on the ground. Window performance at TOPIC art space, curated by A. Marzullo and D. Bernardi, Geneva
ARTIST TALK with D. Pernet at Art Basel for the Swiss Art Awards 2021, invited by Pro Helvetia. Talk and performance all-in-one at Pro Helvetia’s booth, Basel
EXTRA MUROS XXXXX “Au pied du mur” (Too Much Fun), Seedbombs happening with DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT, Home of TMF, Geneva
# EXCUSE MY FRENCH, online performance at the Maison des Arts du Grütli Studio, curated by B. Giongo and N. Sugnaux, GO GO GO Festival, Le Grütli, Centre de production des Arts Vivants, Geneva
2020
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance turned into a personal flashmob this year, curated by TMF, Geneva
MEGAWIN (Three Miraculous Funds), window video installation group show and lucky draw, curated by the artist, Home of TMF, Geneva
UCHIGAWA (The Misfits Fortress), group show and opening of the new art space run by the artist, member of the Collectif O.P.O. aka Oeil pour Oeil (L. Gabriel, W. Gaze, E. Montesinos, Séni) who curated the group show, Home of TMF, Geneva
2019
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance curated by TMF, Geneva
SERVEZ-VOUS, public performance, Festival d’idées à but non lucratif, Geneva
AUTO-DESTRUCT, group show at Cross Lane Projects curated by C. Christie, P. Rousson and S. McCormick, Kendal (UK)
GREEN RIOT NOW by WEED AMBASSY (DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT), inflatable installation visible the whole summer in the botanical garden, Fonds d’art contemporain, Meyrin
BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK by DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT at BIG (Biennale des Espaces d’art indépendants de Genève), Geneva
GET A NERVE!, collaborative showcase curated by TMF, Villa Sarasin, Geneva
2018
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance curated by TMF, Geneva
UNION TMF 24/7, collaborative group show displayed in windows curated by TMF and C. Rigaut, Halle Nord, Geneva
AUTO DESTRUCT, group show, curated by D. Christie and S. Mc Cormick, Unit 1, London
PROTEST STICKERS, sticker edition and group show curated by L. Kropf, Continuum, Lyon
2017
BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance curated by TMF, Geneva
SONIC ROOTS, mobile sonic sculpture driving downtown during the Ghetto Biennale, curated by L. Gordon, A. Eugene & L. Woodroffe, Port-au-Prince
MAXIMA LUX VIRIDITATIS, neon light & data installation on a boat for the Geneva Lux festival, curated by FMAC, Geneva
SMALL (Semaine Magique Amour Liberté Luttes), group show and conferences curated by K. Alphonso and S. Leseigneur, Le Labo, Geneva
WEED AMBASSY (DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT) at BIG (Biennale des Espaces d’art indépendants de Genève), green riot installation in a shipping container, Plaine de Plainpalais, Geneva
THE MESS AGE IS THE MESSAGE, collective show during Electron Festival, curated by the artist at Espace Kugler, Palladium and L’Usine, Geneva
WORK IN PROGRESS (DIY), participative drawing installation at DAF Festival, La Reliure, Geneva
I TREAT VENOM / REMOVE TAINT / EMERITA NO TV, Lucky Draw and performance in tribute to Monte Verità, curated by F. Scauso at Artvera’s Gallery and Art-Genève 2017, Geneva
2016
WALK ON THE PUBLIC SITE : BONFIRE OF POVERTY, performance curated by M. Amsler & M.-E. Knoerle, Geneva
XY_IN_THE_SKY_, skydive performance as Sisters XY with Sarah Lis and Flying Devil, featuring: “Gianni Motti Assistant” T-shirts, Bex
EVERYTHING MUST GO, retrospective auction – Curated by the artist, Aux Armes Etc., Carouge, Geneva
2015
HAUTE-TENSION, interactive 3-D printing performance curated by the artist for Amnesty International and Cities against Death Penalty, Alhambra, Geneva
SILENT MOVIES, group show curated by C. Christie and V. Balogh at Q-Park, Cavendish Square, London
BIG, Installation in collaboration with Amnesty International, curated by BIG-Biennale des espaces Indépendants de Genève, Plaine de Plainpalais
SUNDAY AT THE PARK WITH ED, group show curated by C. Christie and P. Rousson, Display Gallery, London
ALPHABET EDITIONS, group show of all the CEC past editions, curated by V. Bacchetta, Centre d’Edition Contemporaine, Geneva
SCULPTUMES ET COSTURES, group show curated by N. Zaric at Parc Mon Repos, Lausanne
2014
BLIND TEST, group show hidden inside surprise table-bombs, curated by the artist, Double Decker, Geneva
FORDA, group show and performances during Espace Forde’s 20th birthday party, Geneva
SYNALLAGMA SHOW, group show facing pieces from private artists collections, curated by E. Langlois, Quark, Geneva
RED BULL CURATES GENEVA, group show and workshop curated by Trivial Mass & F. Schmied, Cercle des Bains, Geneva
MOS ESPA, installation during the Mos Espa Festival, curated by F. Clerc & F. Post, Motel Campo, Geneva
HALLOWEEN EVERYDAY, group show, flashmob and fanzine edition curated by the artist, Double Decker, Geneva
3AM ETERNAL, The Invisible Cultural Environment curated by The Finnish Local Heritage Federation, Helsinki
GARAGE PARADISE, group show curated by K. Von Zurcher at La Tôlerie, Clermont-Ferrand
2013
PANTONE K 2013 / KUGLER, December 2013 curated by Collectif Kugler, Geneva
THE RIDE, group show curated by Galerie J, in 3 different venues; Zoo Galerie, Nantes; Curtat Tunnel, Lausanne; Schwarzwaldallee, Basel
2012
MMXII, video screenings at Ausstellungsraum Klingental, Basel
MULTI PLAKATI, silkscreen posters hung by SGA in the whole city of Lausanne and group show curated by N. Wagnières Serial Printer at Curtat Tunnel, Lausanne
LA REMISE EN JEU, group show at Villa Dutoit, curated by C.H. Tatot and the HEAD transmaster students, featuring the collection of Fonds Cantonal d’art contemporain, Geneva
PERSONAL EFFECTS ON SALE, group sale at Padiglione dell’Esprit Nouveau, curated by F. Calzolari, D. Casini, V. Emaldi, I. Guzman, U. Rossi & M. Scotti, Arte Fiera, Bologna
2011
DON’T BE CRUEL, group show curated by Anaid Demir at Galerie Vanessa Quang, Paris
YOUTRIBE, multimedia group show at the Centre d’Art Contemporain, Mapping Festival, Geneva
PANORAMA, graphic group show curated by Schönwehrs at the Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
2010
SALLE DES FETES, group show curated by M. A. Berthet at the Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva
2009
GOLDEN SHOWER, solo show at Donald art-group’s window, Lausanne
PORTRAIT DE L’ARTISTE EN MOTOCYCLISTE, collection Olivier Mosset, Le Magasin, Grenoble
I AM BY BIRTH A GENEVESE, group show curated by A. Bianchini et P. Rousson at Vegas Gallery, London and Espace Forde, Geneva
2008
GENERATION X, group show curated by R. Julliard at Galerie J, Paris
DOUBLE-VUE , group show in the public space curated by the Council, Geneva
XXX, solo show at Espace Kugler, Geneva
OIL!OIL!OIL!, solo show curated by R. Julliard at Galerie J, Geneva
FOOLS GOLD, solo show at Espace Doll, Lausanne
FORNICATION UNDER CONSENT OF THE KING, solo show at the ground floor of Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, curated by M. Vertut and L. Schwarz, Geneva
2007
1:10, small scale group show presented in a 1:10 model, Espace Forde, Geneva
CECI N’EST PAS UNE RUINE, group show curated by the artist, Galerie Ruine, Geneva
ACCELERATION, group show at Serrières Karting Circuit, curated by A. de Pury and G. Hubert, Neuchâtel
PLASTIC, group show curated by John Tremblay, Cabinet des estampes, Geneva
2006
BACK FROM THE GRAVE, group show curated by the artist, Duplex, Geneva
LOVELY SHANGAI MUSIC, group show curated by Team 404, Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art
REAL vs UNREAL, group show curated by Hard Hat and A. Bianchini, Ganga Int’l Gallery, Bogota
2005
PIRATE SATELLITE, Int’l Video and Animation, curated by E. Zile, Spacement, Melbourne
OFFICE WORLD, OFS Cultural Space, curated by S. Lamunière, Neuchâtel
2004
GLUE, opening of the Berliner Kunstsalon, Berlin DESIGNMAI, at Vogt+Weizzenegger, Pfefferberg, Berlin
SWISSART VIDEOLOBBY, curated by OFS, Vilnius Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius
2003
WHO IS AFRAID OF FRIENDLY CAPITALISM?, Haus Schwarzenberg, Berlin
SWISSART VIDEOLOBBY, curated by OFS, Biennale de l’Image en Mouvement, CIC, Geneva
SUITS, Madrearte Associassao Cultural, Lisbon
THE BERLIN FLAG UPDATE, B.T.I.I for V+W, Designmai at Rote Rathaus, Berlin
2002
URBAN DRIFT, curated by F. Ferguson, Das Moskau, Berlin
B.T.I.I. SHOW, Frohmann Gallery, Berlin
SLOW AND STEADY, MAMCO, Geneva
2001
RECORD ALL OVER, Biennale de l’Image en Mouvement, MAMCO, Geneva
RECORD COLLECTION, Espace Forde, Geneva
THE CAMO SHOW, Museum Wiesbaden, curated by A. Vaillant and E. Svennung, Wiesbaden
HAIR STYLING, curated by A. Vaillant and E. Svennung, performances at hairdresser’s in New-York and Paris
2000
YOU WIN!, Award from general store Manor, at MAMCO, Geneva
PHON, Espace Forde, Geneva
ONLY CONNECT, curated by Geneva Council, FRAC Nord-Pas-de-Calais
PULSIONS, curated by Attitudes, Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris
1999
STIMULI, curated by B. Mari, Witte de With, Rotterdam
DU CAMOUFLAGE AU FREE STYLE 1, curated by A. Vaillant and E. Svennung, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
HUMAN RIGHTS KARAOKE, curated by Geneva Council, Palais Wilson, Geneva
7 SECONDS, in all Métrociné cinema theaters, Lausanne and Geneva
DOGDAYS ARE OVER, videotheque, curated by N. Trembley, Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris
1998
ANTICIPATION VERSION 4.0, Centre pour l’Image Contemporaine, SGG, Geneva
TECHNOCULTURE, curated by M. Ritter, Fri-Art, Fribourg
EIDGENOSSISCHE PREISE FUR FREIE KUNST, Museum zu Allerheilligen, Schaffhausen
1997
THE SINGLE USE CAMERA SHOW, curated by Attitudes, Projektraum, Zurich
LOW BET, curated by L. Pittet, audio and video festival, Geneva
1996
THE CHRISTMAS SHOW, Galerie Art & Public, curated by G. Motti, Geneva
IN-VIVO, curated by G. Motti, Geneva
